Since HS Sudhindra was trained in percussion at a young age, his two teachers, M Vasudev Rao and Srimushnam Raja Rao, were instrumental in making him broaden his musical interests to include social service that would make a difference to music, musicians and society. Sudhindra remembers his teacher constantly asking him to keep his “hands beating for percussion, and his heart for philanthropy to create a melodious balance.”
It has been 42 years since Sudhindra, the principal and administrator of Suswaralaya, has been on stage as a mridangist, 25 years since he started the Suswaralaya Music College, where he has 60 students trained in vocal and instrumental music. , and 20 years since he launched the Karnataka Musicians Directory, which is updated regularly.
Sudhindra has also devised a unique medical aid scheme for deserving musicians in distress. Suswaralaya has released 20 CDs and 20 books related to Carnatic music, and honors two musicians every year during its annual music festival for their contribution.
silver jubilee
This year, Suswaralaya’s silver jubilee celebrations at the Indian Institute of World Culture will host 13 concerts, two lec-dems, Laya Vinyasa by Suswaralaya students and a special Tala Vadhya Cutcheri by a 25-member percussion team. “The valedictory program was held on November 9 at Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira in Banashankari to felicitate teacher Srimushnam Raja Rao for his contribution to the world,” said Sudhindra, a Ganakalasri and Vani Kala Nipuna awardee.
This year, Suswaralaya’s silver jubilee celebrations will be held from October 23 to 27, when the Suswaralaya Awards — Swaralaya Rathna to TV vocalist Ramaprasadh, and Swaralaya Shrunga to violinist Nalina Mohan — will be presented during the valedictory function.
Nalina Mohan Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
Release directory
During the inauguration on October 23, 10Th Suswaralaya edition Directory of Musicians and Danseuses (Karnataka) will be released by Bangalore Gayana Samaja president MRV Prasad. “This time, the list is updated on 10Th edition will contain a total of 3,776 listings with vocal and instrumental photos of Carnatic and Hindustani musicians, both of dancers and dance institutions in 65 different categories. This time, our list also includes music therapy because of this demand.
According to the Suswaralaya team, the all-inclusive book that takes three months to compile, aims to be a self-reference book listing and contacting music institutions, sabhas, music stores and libraries, magazines, scholars and critics, music and dance photographers, and others. “We also bring information about the awards given by the government and other organizations, which are related to music in Karnataka. I am reaching out to more Hindustani musicians as part of this effort because they can be permanently registered as a contact of Karnataka musicians,” said Sudhindra.
TV Ramprasad | Photo Credit: Special Arrangements
Another release
Books on Ugabhogadarpana in Kannada and English; and Purandaradasa Navarathna Malike Critical in English and Kannada with lyrics and notation will also be released on the occasion. “Mridanga guru vidwan M Vasudeva Rao, vocalist RK Padmanabha, art critic M Suryaprasad and vocalist and scholar TS Sathyavathi will be part of the inaugural programme,” Sudhindra said.
The silver jubilee celebrations will also see the release of 37 rarely heard video recordings Dasa Sahitya Kritis sung by the students of Suswaralaya. Set to a tune by Sudhindra, it will also be available on YouTube. “The eighty works of Karnataka (or Avatara Purusharu) include Purandaradasa, Vyasaraja, Vadiraja, Sripadaraja, Jagannathadasa, Kanakadasa, Vijayadasa and Gopaladasa,” he said, adding, “Every year we plan to make a critical record of what we find in books to help students and researchers .
Suswaralaya College is not only an institution where you can study music, but also where students can receive the necessary foundation in their chosen domain. “We help interested students approach institutions such as the Center for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) for scholarships to continue their studies in fine arts, and provide information on state government scholarships. We help them get grades in AIR and make records to help their careers,” said Sudhindra.
The inaugural concert will see senior vocalist MS Sheela accompanied by Mysore Srikant on violin, Ranjini Venkatesh on mridanga and BS Arun Kumar on morsing.
Suswaralaya College of Music’s silver jubilee concert will be held from October 23 to 27 and November 9 at the Indian Institute of World Culture and Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira. Visit it www.suswaralaya.org for details
Published – 22 October 2024 09:33 IST